Underframe.



F. H. GIBBS.

UNDERFRAME.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8

Patented May 25,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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FREDERICK a. Grass; or NZEW'YORK, n. in, nssreuon restatement CABAND rounpn z COMPANY, on sr. LOUIS, mssounn A conroaarroze or new JERSEY."

UNDERFRAME.

Application filed November 8, 1912. Serial No. 730,225.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, FREDERICK H. GIBBS, residing at New York city, New York, and

being a citizen of the United States, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Underframes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and to use the same, reference being had to the accom anying drawings, which illustrate the pre erred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it isobvious that various modifications thereof will occur to persons skilled in the art.

This invention relates to underframe construction for railroad cars and particularly to that class of construction wherein rolled orpressed commercial sections are used inthe formation thereof and comprehends in its adaptationmeans whereby the end and side sills and the center sill construction are efiectively fixedto'gether independent of the bolsters and whereby the bolsters are reinforced from the center sill construction and from the end andside sills intermediate the span of the bolster and also whereby the juncture of the end and side sills are reinforced from the center sill construction through the bolsters and supplementally reinforced from .the said bolsters and the.

bolster forms a. strut in the truss thus formed.

This invention also comprehends in its adaptation means whereby the crushing strains caused by the impact of bufling to the end underframe members shall be directly transmitted therefrom to the center sill construction through acenter. casting of particular construction which acts also as a bolster filler and reinforcement.

. This invention also comprehends. in its adaptationreinforcing and bracing of the bolster webs in a plurality of planes vertical relatively to the longitudinal axis. of the bolster and it also comprehends a novel construction forsupporting the push.

View of a part of the underframe illustratpole Specification of Letters Patent. Patented-May 25, 1915.

ingone ofthe embodimentsof this invention. Fig. 2 1s a front viewof the bolster 7 is a fragmental corner section, showing the, push. pole pocket in position. Fig. 8 is a plan of a modification of this invention, 7

wherein the bolsterv webs are arranged back. to back or a single I-beam bolster is employed, and, Fig. 9 is a front view of. the bolster of this latter construction, showingthe relationship of the parts as therein adapted and is taken entire line 9- 9 of Fig. 8. 1

-In'thepresent adaptation: of. the inven: tion, an I'-beam form of centersill-has been used as it is oneof the objects of this present invention-t0 practically eliminate the smashing force of an end impactwhich has heretofore ruptured the connections-of draft sills usedw-ith the single sill construction common in the art.

The ordinary Z-bar form of side sill and the usual form of end si'll-are employed in this construction and the common form of channel shaped cross bearers or needle bars piercing the web of the center sill are alsov utilized. As these elements are common in a great manyconstructions of. this nature they will not be claimed herein, except as. may be advisable in combination to form an operative underframe. 1

Referring particularly to the drawings, the center sill-1 is of ordinary I-beam form reduced in depth at the ends where it approaches the bolsters so that the bottom flange may be inclined upward towardthe upper flange for the purposeof forming a g. 4 is a detail shape having their flanges turnedoutwardly and are secured to the end sills 3, which are 1 which are adapted to fit closely within the I of the usual construction, by means of a connection plate 6.

The bolsters employed in this constructionare preferably of the bath-tub type or of the type wherein spaced webs are. used and,

walls of the bolster and be secured thereto and are provided with a bracket portion adapted to fit and carry the Z-bar side sills.

The center casting 14 employed in this construction comprises a casting provided with webs 15 extending practically at 120 to each other from the king pin socket as a center, and is also provided with flanges 16,

two of which are adapted to abut against the inside of the bolster web immediately behind its juncture with the draft sills 2, and one of which is adapted to abut against the web of the bolster substantially in line with the web of the center sill 1. These flanges are adapted to lie in two parallel planes conforming to the inner surface of the bolster webs and afford riveting area for the center and draft sills. It will be seen from the construction of the draft sills and center sill construction that any crushing impact transmitted through the draft sills will be immediately concentrated through the flanges 16 to the webs 15 of the center casting 1 1 to the webs 1 of the center sill construction and that the webs of the bolster would tend in a measure to assist in resisting this crushing impact. The interior bolster reinforcement and side body brace 11 are arranged at an angle as will be more fully explained hereafter.

The diagonal brace 5, which in usual constructions extended from the juncture of the end and side sills to the juncture of the draft sills and the bolsters, in this invention has been formed continuous from the juncture of the end and side sills through the bolster to a point in proximity to the first cross bearer and the webs of the bolster have been provided with a perforation or pocket through which this diagonal brace extends and the interior bolster reinforcement'and side body brace 11 has beenarranged at anhangle corresponding to the angle of this diagonal brace. The diagonal brace is shown of channel section, (though any suitable section may be substituted) and they shall fill the space between the flange v of thec'hannel diagonal member o andbe se- /Ig 3 cured to thewebs of the bolstersand close point intermediate its span, and said-bolster,

forms a. strut for the truss thus formed. The diagonal brace 5 also forms a diagonal chord and a compression member, in a truss composed of the side sill 4, first cross-bearer.

20, center sill 1, draft sills 2 andith e bolster 8, the said bolster being intersected by and mediate its span and forming a strut for the .80 fixed to said diagonal chord at a point intertruss thus formed. It will, therefore, be I perceived that the entire end underframe construction as far as the first cross-bearer comprises complementary trusses adapted to absorb and distribute end or side stresses transmitted to the underframe into the cen.

ter sill construction, or, in other words, to utilize the leverage exerted by the said diagonal chord to maintain the conformation, relationship and alinement of the underframe relative to the rest of the underframe. This is perhaps best illustrated by applying a force inwardly at the corner of the underframe. mediately be transmitted to the diagonal chord 5 or lever, as it may now be termed, and could only travel to the pointof juncture of this chord with the bolster or to the fulcrum of the said chord, and the power end of the chord or lever 5, which has been described herein, is secured to the center sill in rear of the bolster, which would tend, and, in fact, would force the corner of the underframe outward or to normal position. The same-operation would result were the force applied atthe end sill or at the side sill or at the-first cross-bearer, in fact, at any point along the side sills. It will, therefore, be seen that the diagonal brace or lever 5 forms either a tension or compression element against stresses to the underfraine and that the leverage exerted by the said brace or lever forces the parts to normal position irrespective of the point of application of force or shock. this brace or lever renders it possible in the construction disclosed in this invention to omit the side sills lin case the underframe be used as a tank underframe, and. the foundation afforded by this construction would provide the necessary end platform or support for the head blocks, usual in such construction.

It willbe seen that the webs at the end of the diagonal channels 5 where the same join the end and side sill construction have been The action of this force would im In fact,

rea ers turned backward so as to form. a reinforcement 18 for the end sills and for the side sills and that this reinforcement, as par ticularly shown in Fig. 6 extends far enough 20 as has been before said extend through the center sills and are provided with brackets 21 at the extremities thereof for the pur pose of rigidly securing the Z-shaped side sills thereto. Angle pieces 22 have been provided for the purpose of riveting the cross bearers to the center sill on the flanged side thereof and angle pieces 23 for the purpose of riveting the said cross bearers to the center sill Web on the web side thereof. It will be seen from an inspection of the construction that any impact to the end sills Will be transmitted to the draft sills 2 and to the diagonal braces 5, but as the diagonal braces 5 are rigidly secured by means of angle irons 17 to the'webs of the bolster, apart of said strain will be carried or absorbed in the said bolster and a part of it transmitted through the said bolster, through the eX- tension of the diagonal braces 5 to the center sill construction, and the direct impact to the bufier plates or striking castings 24 and to the draft sills 2 will be transmitted through the center casting 14 to the web of the center sill construction so that all strains from impact Will be absorbed practically by the bolster and center sill construction.

One of the advantages of this construction lies in the fact that the usual bath-tub bolster which is probably the most feasible of manufacture has been reinforced at the point Where it has heretofore been defective; in other wo1'*ds,betvve'en the king pin and the side sills and has been reinforced in such manner that it is capable of resisting as much if not greater strains than bolsters of other constructions and furthermore it has been reinforced insuch manner at the center so that it is impossible for any crushing impact, transmitted through the draft sills to the center sills, to effect it in any Way Whatever. r

The cover plate 9 of the bolster construction not only adds rigidity to the said construction, but also provides a riveting area and securing means for the diagonal braces extending through the bolster Webs from the juncture of the end and side sills to the center sills.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9, bolster diaphragms 25 form somewhat deeper at the center than at the sides and placed back to back-hams been employed,

and upper cover plates 26 and lower cover plates 2'1 have been used to provide suitable I.

attaching means for a side bearing .10 and:

for properly bracing the upper and lower flanges of said bolster diaphragms. draft sill construction in this modification extends to Webs of the bolster diaphragms.

The bolster Webs 25 are provided With-a king pin socket to which is attached a bracket 28 which is secured to the web of the center sill. The diagonal braces 5 are of the same form and construction asv inthe preferred form of the, invention and are secured to the Web of the-bolster by means? of angle irons 17 as indicated in Fig. 5, which angle irons serve not only to secure the diagonal braces at the Web of the bolster diaphragrns, but also serve as a reinforcement to the perforation in said diaphragms. The cross bearers and details of construction in this modification are identical with the construction of Fig. 1 and need not therefore be described.

Another advantage of this inventionis that the diagonal braces receive their support from the center sill construction and The do not necessarily depend upon the bolsters or draft sills for their resisting power except supplementally wherein the bolster acts as a form of strut in a truss formedby.

the side and end sills.

Another advantage attached to this invention is that when a push pole is used in the push pole pocket, theangle of the push rod in almost every instance Will coincide with the direction of the angle braces 5 so that the construction would receive no side strain from such uses.

What I claim is1- 1. An underframe construction comprise ing draft sills, a single center sill and a through bolster, and a center casting spacing and supporting the bolster Webs and-adapt.- ed to converge the crushing stresses transmitted to the draft sills into the center sills.

2. In an underframe, a bolster provided with pockets, a single center sill comprising a vertical Web and a plurality of diagonal braces resting in saidpockets and being connected together through said Web. 1 3. In an underframe, a bolster provided with pockets, end sills, a plurality of drag onal braces connected togetherat their inner ends and extending outwardly through said bolster and being connected with said.

end sills at their outer ends.

[L in an under-frame, a single center S111,

spaced draft sills, end sills, pocketed bolsters and diagonal braces connected to said single center sill and extending through the pockets of said bolsters to connect With said end sills.

5. in a car underframe, Z-shaped side sills, a single center sill, a pocketed bolster and diagonal braces connected directly together.

through said center sill extending through the bolster pockets and terminating below one of the flanges of each of said side sills.

6. In a car underframe, Z-shaped side sills, a single center sill, a pocketed bolster and diagonal braces connected directly together through said center sill extending through the bolster pockets and connected to the webs of said side sills.

7. In an underframe, a single rolled center sill having vertical web, a bolster, spaced diagonal braces extending from near said end sills through said bolster and being connected together by means connecting said braces to the plate of said center sill.

9. In an underframe comprising a single plate-girder center sill between bolsters,

bolsters, end sills, spaced draft sills extending' between said end sills and bolsters at each end, and braces adapted to aid in supporting said end sills, said braces extending from said end sills through said bolsters and being connected together through said plate girder sill intermediate said bolsters.

10. In a single center sill construction, means for supporting the outer ends of spaced draft sills comprising an end sill and diagonal braces fulcrumed at a bolster and extending from said end sill to and being connected together through said single center sill.

11. In a car underframe, a bolster, an end sill, and diagonal braces for said end sill tulcrumed at said bolster with the ma or portion of their length extending inwardly of said bolster and being rigidly supported at their inner ends.

12. In a car undcrframe, a flanged center sill having a vertical web, iii-shaped slde sills, a bolster connecting said sills, and diagonal braces fulcrumed at said bolster and being connectedtogether one end and being connected to the Webs of said side sills beyond said bolster.

13. In a car underframe, a single plategirder center sill, spaced draft sills, a filler casting connecting the draft and center sills, a bolster provided with pockets, and diagonal braces resting in said pockets and being connected directly to said plate-girder sill and adapted to aid in supporting the outer end of said underframe.

14. In a car construction, bolsters, and an end sill support comprising levers connected with said end sill at their outer ends and be wa ers ing connected directly together at their inner ends intermediate said bolsters;

' said draft sills intermediate their ends, and

diagonal braces connecting said ends sills with said center sill between said bolsters.

16. In a car underframe, bolsters, a single center sill terminating at said bolsters, channel-shaped draft sills extending outwardly from said bolsters, end sills extending across said draft sills intermediate their ends, and connected diagonal braces fulcrumed at said bolsters and being connected directly to the single center sill intermediate said bolsters. 17. In a car underframe, bolsters, a single rolled center sill, end sills, spaced draft sills formed of rolled flanged sections longer than the distance between said bolsters and said end sills, bolster cover plates connecting said center sill and said draft sills, and

diagonal braces connecting the end sill and single center sill.

18. In a car underframe, bolsters, end sills and intermediate means connecting said bolsters, in combination with bolster reinforcing means penetrating said bolsters and extending diagonally from near the outer ends of said end sills to said intermediate connecting means. i

19. In a car underframe, bolsters, end sills, a single center sill connecting said bolsters, in combination with bolster reinforcing means penetrating the bolsters and being connected with said end sills near their outer ends and with the center sill intermediate the bolsters.

20. 1'11 a car under-frame, bolsters, a center sill, end sills and diagonal braces connected through the center sill and with the end sill and combined with the elements of said bolsters in such manner as to form stiffening members for the bolsters vertically thereof. I I l 21. In a car underframe, bolsters provided with side bearings, a single center sill connecting said bolsters, end sills, and diagonal braces connected with said center sill at one end, penetrating said bolsters in alinement with. said side bearings, and connected with said end sills at their opposite ends.

22. lln a car underframe, bolsters, end sills, spaced draft sills terminating at said bolsters, and means for supporting the outer ends of said draft sills comprising a center sill and diagonal braces connected through said center sill intermediate the bolsters, passing thence through the bolsters and connected with the outer ends of the end sills, the end sills being connected with thedraft sills.

23. in an undefirame, bolsters,-a single R me em 5 center sill spanning the space between said In Witness whereof I have hereunto set I bolsters, spaced 7 draft sills, end sills conmy hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

necting the outer end portions of said draft sills, and diagonal braces connected With said FREDERICK GIBBS 5 center sill, passing thence through the Witnesses:

bolster and being connected with said end LIVINGSTON EMERY,

sills near their outer ends. HARRY H. Liter. 

